The Dayton Performing Arts Alliance has a full slate of fall shows to keep you enthralled
Dayton, whether you realize it or not, is an arts city. It has an dance, music and theater, not to mention a slew of concert venues both downtown and in surrounding suburbs.
No organization is more of an example of this than the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance (DPAA), which consists of the Dayton Opera, Dayton Ballet and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra.
You can celebrate this unique partnership with the fall schedule of performances, productions and shows from all three performing arts groups, all put on by the DPAA.
Coppélia
The first ballet performance of the season will be Coppélia, running Oct. 18-20 at the Victoria Theatre. Robert Curran, the former artistic director for the Louisville Ballet, will be choreographing the production.
“We’re taking this classic story of Coppélia, which is almost like a Pinocchio type story, and [Curran] is setting it in Dayton,” says Brittany Laughlin, vice president of Marketing and Audience Development.
Laughlin describes Coppélia as a lighthearted story with a bit of comedy and beautiful choreography.
Brandon Ragland will be entering his sophomore season as assistant director for the Dayton Ballet. But, Laughlin says, this will be the year to prove himself. “He didn’t really get an opportunity to program much last year,” she says. “He kind of just had to take over where Karen left off with the programming.”
Karen Russo Burke was the former longtime artistic director of the Dayton Ballet, spending 12 years at its helm.
“This year is completely imagined by Brandon,” Laughlin adds. “We’re really thrilled to see his vision for the Dayton Ballet.”
Don’t Stop Believing: The Music of Journey
Next, Laughlin recommends seeing Don’t Stop Believing: The Music of Journey Oct. 26 at the Schuster Center. “Who doesn’t love Journey?” she laughs.
Jeans ‘n Classics, a group of rock musicians who perform symphonic rock shows with orchestras around the country, will be collaborating with the Dayton Philharmonic for its Rockin’ Orchestra Series again.
All of your favorite Journey classics will be on the setlist, including “Any Way You Want It,” “Separate Ways” and “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Broadway By Request
On Nov. 2, Broadway By Request will premiere at the Schuster Center with the help of Conductor Neal Gittleman, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and votes from attendees.
“What’s fun about this is it’s going to be a night of Broadway favorites,” Laughlin says. “But the audience is voting solely on the repertoire, so right now we have no program.”
The audience voted earlier in September for their favorite Broadway songs for the orchestra to play. Those songs will then be performed at the show.
Beethoven, London, and a World Premiere
This year marks conductor Gittleman’s 30th year at the podium with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, which will be celebrated with a Masterworks performance on Nov. 8-9: Beethoven, London, and a World Premiere.
“It’s such an amazing achievement and just a testament to how awesome Neil is,” Laughlin says. “He just loves the orchestra, he loves the community, he loves the camaraderie, he loves the music making. This season is really a celebration of him.”
Émile Naoumoff will be accompanying on piano.
Beethoven, London, and a World Premiere will include the world premiere of a piece from Malcolm Singer, presenting a contemporary look at the city of London, while Ralph Vaughan Williams’ piece will showcase a more historical and romantic account of the city. In between the two pieces, Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto will be played, intended to be a showpiece for the composer himself, according to DPAA’s website.
Elf in Concert
Going into the holiday season, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing Elf in Concert at the Schuster Center Nov. 22-23. The movie will be shown while the orchestra plays John Debney’s original score live.
“I don’t know about you, but it’s one of those movies where the score just makes you so happy, right?” Laughlin says.
Menotti’s “Amahl and the Night Visitors”
December, which is the busiest month of the year for DPAA because of the holidays, will start off with Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors on Friday, Dec. 6. This opera tells the story of “three mysterious kings following a star to bring gifts to a wonderful child,” according to DPAA’s website.
“It’s relatively short for an opera, so it’s perfect for families and people who aren’t sure they like opera,” Laughlin says. “It’s just a really wonderful Christmas story.”
Kathleen Clawson, director of this production, also cast the opera. “She does such a great job of casting these in a really thoughtful and compelling way where you fall in love with the [characters],” Laughlin says.
The Nutcracker
The biggest show of the year, The Nutcracker, will run Dec. 13-22, with a break Dec. 19.
Ragland has done a complete reimagining of the show, and this year will be the premiere of it. According to Laughlin, it will be set in Dayton and there will be homages to Dayton within the set design, which will be completely custom. “Even if you’re not familiar with the actual ballet, the music itself is reason enough to come,” Laughlin says.
On Friday, Dec. 20, a production of The Nutcracker: Sensory-Friendly will be performed. It is great for all families, but especially those with autism, sensory sensitivities or other social, learning or cognitive atypicality, according to DPAA’s website. The show will feature recorded music rather than a live orchestra and leaves out loud sounds and dissonant effects. “We’ve done it a number of years, but every year it just gets bigger and bigger,” Laughlin says.
Laughlin shares that the arts in Dayton are unique to other cities she’s worked in. “One of the things that really differentiates us is that all of these productions…we are producing them here, in Dayton” she says. “The sets, the costumes, stagehands … it’s world-class, but it’s very community driven.”
